The board, which meets tomorrow night, will attempt to thrash out a proposed restructure of directors with strong support for both Sayers and Australia Post chief Ahmed Fahour.

It is understood president Stephen Kernahan is keen to oversee a succession plan and avoid what is looming as a divisive power struggle but remain at the helm for at least one more season. His dilemma in the short term is how to manage another influx of directors.

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Kernahan, and Richard Pratt before him, had vowed to radically reduce the board that had shrunk by one to 11 before Pratt's widow, Jeanne, was voted on as a director and vice-president early last year.

Her son-in-law, director Raphael Geminder, is a strong supporter of Fahour and has used his significant financial clout to push for him to join the board. Sayers is supported by director Mark Lo Giudice. Kernahan is understood to have met with Sayers in recent weeks and has supported a general push for more business expertise to become involved with the club at board level.

Tomorrow night will see discussion on how to introduce Fahour and Sayers along with incoming directors Craig Mathieson - the nephew of Carlton's pokies benefactor Bruce Mathieson - and Ryan Trainor with only three directors at present prepared to step down. It remains uncertain whether Kernahan could be forced out as part of the reshuffle. Instead of reducing the board by one, as previously planned this year, the current scenario would see it expanded to 13.